Born in Medicine Hat Alberta on August 16, 1941, our dear Melva Jean McQueen left us on August 20, 2026, 4 days after marking her 85th birthday. This prairie girl found her way to Nova Scotia, her final home, to be close to her daughter Noel and her partner George, after having lived for several years in Montreal near her eldest daughter Laurie, her partner Fabien, and her grandchildren Morganne and Axelle. She also leaves behind her son Peter, and his partner Mimi, along with their children, Ashley, Noah, Aaron and Ava, as well as Laurie and Fabien’s two boys in France – Jonathan and Alexandre, and her grandchildren to Jonathan: Nolan and Alice.

Her parents, Jack and Thora Barrie, raised an independent, hard-headed, joyful person, who left her mark with everyone she encountered. She was the oldest of three, her brother John (Betty) who predeceased her, and her baby brother Alan (Linda) – known to her kids as “Uncle Al the kiddy’s pal”. Family was core to Mel’s being.

Mel was a woman of energetic contrasts – while fiercely independent she also needed and loved to be with her family and friends. Mel loved her children, her grandchildren, her great grandchildren, and her grand dogs with enthusiasm. Anyone associated with one of her children was immediately family; no questions asked – partners and stepchildren alike. She was concerned about giving and fairness, and making sure people felt recognized.

As the mother of a military family, Mel lived in many places across Canada and Europe: Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec, Ontario, Germany and Nova Scotia. She held many jobs at her various postings: real estate agent, engineering firm clerk, and she worked at the Legion, DND and CISIS. She was always curious and took courses in language, geography, fine arts and economics. She took advantage of travel opportunities offered by military life to travel to far-off places. Annual family summer road trips driving across Canada to visit grandparents in Medicine Hat are well remembered. On these trips, her kids explored their mother’s roots and learned to love the Prairies like she did. She also loved to go on bridge weekends with her circle of friends in Ottawa. One of her proudest personal adventures was when she drove from Ottawa to Gabarus, Cape Breton, and spent the summer in her friend Evelyn’s cottage. Endlessly enthusiastic about adventures, later in life she was content to travel in her imagination and share the experiences of others. The simple things could fill her with thankfulness – a conversation in the coffee shop, a dinner or show with friends, a visit from her children, grandchildren or grand dogs.

She was an enthusiastic conversationalist, and made everyone feel seen. She was funny and quirky and able to laugh at herself. She made people happy to be around her as she put lots of love, care and kindness into the world. She was often heard to say how kind everyone around her was.

In keeping with her wishes, cremation has taken place and celebrations of her life will be held at later dates – one in Bridgewater, one in Wolfville, one in Montreal, and finally, one home in Medicine Hat, where her family will take her back to her Prairie roots to be with her parents. Arrangements have been entrusted to Person Care Cremations & Memorial Services.

For those wishing, donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, the Valley Cardiac Rehab Society or any Children’s Aid /Child and Family Services agency of your choice (Mel having adopted her 3 kids) would be appreciated by her family.

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